Was Priest’s Murder Really a Martyrdom?

by Letters Editor · Published July 3, 2022 · Updated July 3, 2022

P Kgaffe – Your article commemorating the 20th anniversary of the murder of Fr Michael D’Annucci was titled “Martyr of charity”. Daluxolo Moloantoa’s account of the charitable works which Fr D’Annucci did in the pastoral area he served created a good impression of him as a visionary, problem solver, multiskilled worker, motivator, youth developer, pastoral enthusiast, and advocate for justice, among others. In the quoted words of Nelson Mandela, he was “a great friend of South Africa and its people”.

Those who interacted with him attest to his mission of living the spirit of “community serving humanity” though having delivered acts of mercy to those on the periphery of life. He witnessed Christ to them and fostered their evangelisation.

However, the many attributes bestowed on him create an impression that he was acting by lone efforts, yet he belonged to the religious community of the Stigmatine Fathers, which allocated responsibilities to priests as per skill and ability. It appears as though his success was driven by personal ambition and ability in also acquiring resources which were needed for the completion of the projects and activities he undertook. Thus, in my opinion, his proposed sainthood cause could be sought on the grounds of his unwavering dedication to his vocation in which he demonstrated a deep desire for the welfare of those in need, thus living his faith through good works.

I have difficulty, however, reconciling the reasons advanced for martyrising him. I might be limited in my understanding of martyrdom, but a martyr by definition would be someone killed for persisting in his Christian faith; put to death for a great cause or principle. In this case, I find no link between his faith or principles he held and the direct reason for his murder. The murder took place after Fr D’Annucci undertook a pastoral visit, returning to his car only to be accosted by criminals. No link can be tied to his pastoral work and death.

I am of the view that Fr D’Annucci’s canonisation process would be a worthy cause, but highly doubt if objective, cogent reasons exist for his martyrdom.

Response: Pope Francis in his motu proprio “Maiorem hac dilectionem” of July 11, 2017, declared Martyrdom of Charity a valid path to possible beatification. The pope called it an “offering of life”, meaning that a person died an unnatural and premature death through an offering of their life for love of God and neighbour. In other words, such a person died violently in the pursuit of performing an act of charity which was motivated by their Christian vocation.

This may also apply in the case of Fr D’Annucci, as he was murdered in the driveway of a family to whom he had made a pastoral visit (as opposed to, say, as he was going shopping or to the movies). Whether that would be enough to qualify Fr D’Annucci for possible beatification is up to his order and then the Vatican, but it would seem that his case meets the basic requirement for the description of a Martyr of Charity.—Editor

This letter was published in the May 2022 issue of The Southern Cross magazine